Shinken from ninecircles. Any good?

[StanLee]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if the shinken being sold on www.ninecircles.co.uk are good.

Anyone bought one from them yet?

Thanks.:)

[ulvulv]

seen a number of them at a bka seminar, but not handled them. High quality fittings.

[StanLee]

Is it worth getting one though?

Any other thoughts anyone?:)

[chris davis 200]

yeh - they are very good.

they are of comparable / better quality than any other shinkens from the major suppliers worldwide.

i have an iaito from them - it is excellent - but i have also seen tameshigiri with their shinkens on ripe coconuts!! :eek: i cant remember the sensei. was impressive none the less!

so yeh - they are the best you can get in the UK or Europe.

cheers

[StanLee]

Thanks Chris, that's what I wanted to know. My sensei wanted me to find out if they are any good. I think he is going to buy the folded one from the okuden range.

[chris davis 200]

a very fine choice - tell him to call them - they are real real helpful.

cheers
chris

[Richie112]

The only snag is he won't be able to take it in to Japan as they are made in China.

Chris do you have any connection with Ninecircles? ;)

[chris davis 200]

hi richie

yeh - i study Daito ryu under the owner - but that is not why i made the coments.

They are excellent swords.

As for taking to japan - I didnt think you could take any shinken into japan without a licence, regardless of where they are made, japan or otherwise.

Also i think you will find that all of the shinken available from All of the major suppliers are manufactured in China by Japanese companies. Skilled cheap workforce, cheap land etc it just makes sense. Just that few realise they are!! :)

All fittings etc are japanese to my knowledge and it is a japanese company that supply them. But to be honest - i know Little / nothing about their business i only study martial arts with the director.

I am sure others here will vouch for the quality of their products and service.

If you do have any questions please contact them as i have nothing to do with their business.

Kindest regards
Chris Davis

[StanLee]

Thank you all for your kind advice.:) I knew ebudo wouldn't let me down!

[Ong Han Beng]

Hi,

I handled one during the world taikai last year, where they set up shop. Good balance and workmanship. The owner practise koryu as well.

Han

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Richie112
The only snag is he won't be able to take it in to Japan as they are made in China.
I think that if you can prove you are a Budoka going to a sanctioned event or studying at a dojo in Japan you can get a permit to bring "foreign-made" swords into Japan.

You might want to ask one of the members that lives there to confirm, but I am pretty sure that this is the case.

[Ong Han Beng]

Originally posted by Richie112

i am surprise to hear of such rules. Its like telling me I can't bring my Glock 22 into USA.

Han

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by Ong Han Beng
i am surprise to hear of such rules. Its like telling me I can't bring my Glock 22 into USA.
Even Japanese citizens are strictly regulated regarding sword possesion. It's not just a matter of foreign-made vs. Japanese-made, it's mostly about bringing any weapon into the country.

[Ong Han Beng]

gosh, imagine walking around Shinjuku with a kusarigama strapped onto my backpack
;)

[Tony Peters]

Originally posted by Yagyu Kenshi
Even Japanese citizens are strictly regulated regarding sword possesion. It's not just a matter of foreign-made vs. Japanese-made, it's mostly about bringing any weapon into the country.

No it's specificly a ban on "any not made in Japan Swords"...the US Military officers have to get a special dispensation for their uniform swords. Usually it's just confiscated at Narita (or whichever airport you enter the country from) Training weapons for other martial arts (Chinese for instance) are allowed but the rules are strange on them. Surprisingly it's easier to buy and Export a sword than you think, of course there is still the whole being able to afford it thing which I haven't been able to get around
Though you are correct importation of any other weapons are reason to be introduced to the Japanese justice system:eek:

[Tony Peters]

Originally posted by Yagyu Kenshi
Even Japanese citizens are strictly regulated regarding sword possesion. It's not just a matter of foreign-made vs. Japanese-made, it's mostly about bringing any weapon into the country.

No it's specificly a ban on "any not made in Japan Swords"...the US Military officers have to get a special dispensation for their uniform swords. Usually it's just confiscated at Narita (or whichever airport you enter the country from) Training weapons for other martial arts (Chinese for instance) are allowed but the rules are strange on them. Surprisingly it's easier to buy and Export a sword than you think, of course there is still the whole being able to afford it thing which I haven't been able to get around

[renfield_kuroda]

Unless you have a very good contact in Japan and/or speak excellent Japanese, you will most likely fail to get non-nihonto (foreign-made) swords into Japan.
Several members on this board are able to do it because they have the assistance of a well respected (and well connected) sword shop owner, who meets them at the police station in the airport and handles the paperwork to temporarily bring the swords in "for polishing".
Without such a contact, you will most likely have your sword consfiscated at the airport, it being strictly illegal.

Regards,

r e n

[Brian Owens]

Are you saying that I could just walk out of the airport with it if it were a Japanese made sword?

Please note that I said "It's not just a matter of foreign-made vs. Japanese-made, it's mostly about bringing any weapon into the country."

Can you clarify please?

[renfield_kuroda]

If you have a sword, when you are in the airport customs will direct you to the police station (just off to the right of customs) where an officer familiar with swords (usually himself a kendo/iai practitioner as most cops are) will investigate the blade.

* If it's a registered nihonto, for which you have the proper paperwork from the board of education allowing you to take it out of Japan in the first place (technically this involves un-registering it), you will complete some more paperwork and be on your way. You must then take that paperwork and re-register your blade asap at the board of education.

* If it's an unregistered nihonto, for which you have no paperwork, you will complete some more paperwork and will have to take it to the board of education to get properly registered asap.

* If it's not a nihonto:
- your well-versed and well-connected contact will discuss with the police and customs officials, fill out lots of paperwork, and you will be allowed to bring the sword in temporarily.
OR
- it will be consfiscated and you may also be eligible for one or more of the following: a fine, criminal proceedings, immediate deportation, a strong lecture.

Regards,

r e n

[Ong Han Beng]

I remember being detained at Narita in 1992 for over an hour (nearly missing the flight home) over an iaito, when we fail to provide a receipt of purchase.

We have to explain to airport security until the cows come home that its a training sword. Thank goodness they got a superior doing Kendo and vouching for us that we didn't steal it from the Tokyo Museum.

Han

[Brian Owens]

Thank you Kuroda-san. I have a standing invitation to visit Japan, and I will "someday" as time and money permit, so I'm trying to learn as much about the customs and ettiquette as I can pick up a bit at a time.

Thanks again.

[Mekugi]

<deleted>

Just read Renfield's post...same - same.


Originally posted by Richie112
The only snag is he won't be able to take it in to Japan as they are made in China.

Chris do you have any connection with Ninecircles? ;)

[StanLee]

When I left Narita airport after my holiday two years ago, I had bought a decorative wakasashi and packed it in my suitcase. When I came to check my luggage in, the suitcase got xrayed...

Oh dear, all they (and I) could see from the xray screen was a dark blade shape.

It was lucky that I had my reciept, and that was that. I was quickly on my merry way.